Rotating scale preventer and remover



Jan. 9, 1968 J. B. MCSWAIN 3,362,690

ROTATING SCALE PREVENTER AND REMOVER Filed April 27, 1964 INVENTOR.

JOHN 3. M6 SWAIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The combination of a vessel in which scale tends to form together with a scraper which is connected to a vertically movable sleeve through a loosely fitted link so that the scraper floats on a perforated bottom of the vessel.

The present invention relates to vessels in which scale tends to form. Such vessels contain liquid, which liquid is of the type in which precipitation takes place and which precipitation forms a hard scale, such scale being formed when, for example, sea water is heated.

In practicing the present invention, I provide a vertically extending and rotatable shaft. A rotatable scraper is slidably mounted in the shaft and rests on the bottom of the vessel. The bottom has an outlet for the precipitation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom is in the form of an inverted cone and the outlet is at the lowermost section of the bottom.

Other features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a vessel and showing my improved scraping mechanism in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the scraper taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the vessel or tank 20 is of the cylindrical type having a cylindrical type having a cylindrical side wall 22 and, in the preferred embodiment, an inverted cone-shaped bottom wall 24 and a top wall 26. The vessel is shown, for illustrative purpose, as an evaporator, as for example, for a sea Water conversion system. For this purpose, it is provided with a water inlet 28, a vapor outlet 30, and a brine outlet 32. The brine outlet is controlled by a valve 34.

A steam jacket 36 is disposed immediately below the bottom wall 24. This jacket is provided with a steam inlet 38. Series of orifices 40 are formed in the bottom wall for injecting steam into the water in the vessel.

A vertically extending shaft 42 extends through a packing gland 44 and into the vessel. This shaft is connected to a second vertically extending shaft 46 by a universal joint 48. Scrapers 50 are carried by a frame which frame is vertically slidable on the shaft 46, the frame including sleeves 54 and 56 which are splined to the shaft 46, as shown at 58. The sleeves 54 and 56 are connected with the scrapers 50 by loosely fitting 3,362,653 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 links 60 and 62, respectively, and bolts 64, whereby the scrapers follow the contour of the top of the bottom 24 while resting on the bottom.

Because of this construction, the scrapers float on the bottom of the vessel and thereby prevent the formation of scale. The precipitation which would have caused scale is drained from the vessel through the pipe 32.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described, constitutes preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling Within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. In combination:

(A) a vessel, for liquid, in which scale tends to form,

said vessel including:

(1) a circularly shaped and inwardly sloping bottom, said bottom having a centrally disposed opening a plurality of surrounding orifices;

(B) a vertically extending and rotatable shaft;

(C) a scraper floating on the bottom of the vessel;

(D) driving means for rotating the scraper while it floats on the bottom of the vessel, including:

(1) a link;

(2) and means for loosely connecting the link with the rotatable shaft and the scraper;

(E) a drain pipe connected with the centrally disposed opening;

(F) a steam jacket immediately below the vessel.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the driving means (D) further includes:

(3) a second link disposed below the first mentioned link;

(4) and means for loosely connecting the rotatable shaft with the second mentioned link.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the driving means (D) includes:

(5) two superimposed sleeves surrounding the shaft having spline connections with the shaft, and further characterized in that the first mentioned link is attached to the upper sleeve and that the second mentioned link is connected to the lower sleeve.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the driving means (D) further includes:

(3) a vertically slidable sleeve surrounding the shaft having spline connections with the shaft, and further characterized in that the link is attached to the sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 179,883 7/1876 Andrew 259-107 X 461,010 10/1891 Cooper 259-107 X 628,378 7/1899 Wymonde 259-108 X 776,187 11/1904 Koneman 259-107 X 1,364,412 1/1921 Shafor 261-93 X 1,810,637 6/1931 Beers 259-107 X 2,146,566 2/1939 Daman.

FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner.

E. H. RENNER, Assistant Examiner. 

